Locator Beacons and Portland Mountain Rescue's Four Elements of Safety

1. KNOW THE CONDITIONS
Weather, snow and avalanche conditions are vital data that you must gather before you go: no exceptions.

National Weather Service: Forecast for Mt. Hood-- South Side, 9000ft

Northwest Weather and Avalanche Center Backcountry Avalanche Forecast, Mt. Hood Area, Zone 13

Northwest Mountain Weather Telemetry Plots - (scroll to the bottom for Mt Hood locations)

Winds Aloft Chart (for PDX Airport) – Explanation of Winds Aloft

For charts near other mountains, start here. Use the third map “ETA Model UPPER/ALOFT” and pick the airport(s) nearest your desired peak.

2. KNOW YOUR ROUTE
There is no substitute for awareness of where you are and where you will be. Bring your GPS, map and compass. More info below.

Mt. Hood Route Descriptions from SummitPost.com

Oregon Cascades Forum from CascadeClimbers.com

3. BE PREPARED
If you know your trip’s route, conditions, and timeframe, you can determine what you need to bring. For hints, follow this link.

Backpacking Ten Essentials + 4 from backpacking.net

Mountaineering Essentials from the website of the Mazamas, a Portland-based mountaineering organization

4. HAVE a BACKUP PLAN
Locator beacons are a part of your 'backup plan'. To increase the likelihood that you will be found alive, bring that beacon, as well as:
-- Leave an itinerary with someone who can contact authorities if you’re overdue.
-- Bring what you will need to keep you fed, warm, clothed and hydrated if you have to stay out for an extended period of time. [Examples of such gear include emergency bivouac equipment (stove, tent, fuel, bivvy sac), flares, extra batteries, and first-aid equipment.]
-- Ensure that those traveling with you are prepared for the trip and know how to safely travel in the backcountry.

---

See below for information on using locator beacons as tools for backcountry emergency preparedness

Mountain Locator Units: Click here to learn how to get one, how they work and more detailed information about their use, as well as their limitations. MLU's can be rented from any local REI store, or from the Mt. Hood Inn.

Please remember:
-MLU’s are specific to Mt. Hood
-MLU’s are easily available
-MLU’s do not guarantee universal signal transmission—that is, speedy and precise triangulation of a climber’s position is not always possible.

Personal Locator Beacons: Click here to learn how to get one and how they work. Please note that PLB's must either be purchased or rented online. Use the code MTHOOD any time during the winter season to rent a PLB for $5 from the website we linked to above (www.plbrentals.com), and remember that they must be rented in advance and will be shipped to you.